Holiday Instax Wreath

I brought my Instax Wide with me on our road trip to OKC and Dallas to see the entire side of my family. I'm hoping to be able to take a photo of each of them (as well as Brett's side) and then make a flip book for Ruby and Sebastian since they don't see everyone as often as any of us would like. Expect a little DIY in the future!

These are mostly photos I've taken since we've moved into our new home. I wanted a way to document this first Christmas that captured the random memories such as the sick kid dance party we had in our living room the morning before our road trip and the many things Ruby found her way into while we were unpacking. This green wreath was probably made to be a Christmas card holder but I found it at a thrift store and spray painted it green last year and decided to go with photos instead.

I've been keeping it up on the wall (no, we don't have all wood paneling. ha!) but couldn't get a picture without strange reflections on the photos. It's been fun to add a picture every few days and I'll date the backs and maybe start over for the new year. I love my Instax 210 and will never get over the feeling of instant photos in my hand. Thanks, Joe! (If anyone has this on their Christmas list, you're going to love it!)

We are currently enjoying perfect weather in OKC at my parent's house. Brett and Sebastian are outside playing ball and my mom is soaking in some grandbaby time with Ruby! Can I just say...I'm totally enjoying this little break in mama duty. Couldn't have come at a better time! Check back this evening for our Vintage Here, Vintage There post featuring outerwear!

xoxo,
Rachel

We Aren't That Spooky

Our Halloween evening was short and sweet with two little ones that were too tired to rock-n-roll all night and a slightly sick mama that was just fine with turning in early. I spent most of the weekend between fevers and headaches and Brett took care of the kids so I could rest. Halloween afternoon rolled around and I was able to finish Ruby's Little Red Riding Hood cape and decided on my own costume as the wolf dressed as granny. That's when things started to get interesting.

Brett pulled me aside and told me he was an hour into his essay revisions for his online class and it was going to take him much longer than he thought to finish. I knew he was hoping I'd be the one to mention he stay home to work while I took the kids out and that we were both disappointed. I pouted a little but then remembered how much time he'd sacrificed all weekend watching the kids so I could rest, the five loads of laundry, the three loads of dishes, the trips to the grocery store, and taking Sebastian to church by himself that morning. He had taken good care of us so I needed to take care of him. Though, I did pout a little bit longer than I should've.

I got Ruby dressed and left her to scoot around her room while I located her brother who suddenly didn't want to dress up AGAIN and go get MORE CANDY. He wanted to look for transformers online! And play transformers with his friend from across the street! And why couldn't he be BUMBLEBEE for Halloween! Because the fever inhibits my ability to make costumes appear out of thin air, son. Obviously.

We had Brett take photos and video of us in the front yard after I changed my costume from granny the wolf to The Woodsman. It was WAY more comfortable anyway, ya'll. We got packed into the car and I downed a small bag of M&M's while I pouted a little longer that I was hauling two small ones out into the night while wearing a moustache and a fever. (Maybe I should've been the H1N1 virus!)

We then drove to McDonald's ya'll, because in all the costume finishing, plan changing, pouty face frenzy, I had forgotten to feed my son. My son who then uncharacteristically threw his Happy Meal toy at my head while I was driving so I could open it for him. I called his toy stupid as I teared up at the state of our evening and soon we were both crying. Did I mention he missed his two hour nap?

We finally made it to the trunk-or-treat to meet up with our friends and hit up a neighborhood with plenty of candy and not too many kids to wait behind at the door. I got to see my friends' son and daughter experience Halloween for the first time (without missing a beat I might add) and enjoyed the comic relief that all of our kids provided as they raced back from each door to show us their buckets.

Spiderman, declared he was worn out before I did so I took that opportunity to head home, count our candy, and tell Brett what he'd missed. Thankfully he was able to see all the photos before we tried uploading them later that night because most of them managed to get deleted en route. Yes, the perfect ending to the evening. My Instax 210 saved the day, though, so Ruby will someday have proof that her first Halloween actually happened.

At the end of the day I got my costume photo, Sebastian got to see his friends, and Brett finished his paper with about 30 minutes to spare. It could've been worse.

I'd love to hear how your Halloween went! Do share...

xoxo,
Rachel

Best Family Weekend In Months!

I wish I had a photo for every memorable moment from the last three plus days but other than Saturday morning at the pumpkin farm, we were either having fun at night or too into the moment to remember a camera! It was refreshing and just what we needed as a family to reconnect after so many weekends full of travel, Reserves drill, obligations, or deadlines with work.

On Friday after a trip to the grocery store and a run to grab some take out we decided on a whim (at 7:30 p.m.) to find a parking spot and have a picnic at Jordan Valley Park. It felt like those late summer nights in high school when the weather is perfectly warm and there are lots of people out enjoying the communal company of each other. The kids both got wet at the fountains and were out like a light when we finally put them to bed.

The next morning we made it to Anton's Coffee Shop and made friends with our waitress. It's still a toss up for us between Gailey's and Anton's for breakfast food but Anton's will be our go to if we're in a hurry. They have the greatest vintage high chairs made out of metal and covered in red and white gingham oil cloth and my omellete was delicious!

After breakfast we drove back to our neighborhood and spent a good hour at the pumpkin farm. Sebastian and Brett walked down rows of broccoli, climbed up piles of bark, and roamed through the pumpkins patiently stopping for photos at my request. Sebastian told me to take one of him on the wood chip pile and then made Brett do what he had done and took the photo below.

Later that evening was when we had invited our friends over to enjoy the fire pit so we got the house cleaned up a bit and decorated the front porch with pumpkins and mums. Our friends brought granny smith apples and caramel sauce and we had apple smoked turkey brats and S'mores with mint chocolate chip chocolate squares. We do weenie roasts extra fancy, ya'll.

The police showed up about thirty minutes after we'd started the fire and the rest of that story can be found in the previous two posts. It was even more sweet to have our friends there to enjoy our good news and get excited with us as we had been talking about it soon after they had arrived!

Sunday was spent enjoying our mostly clean house, playing with the kids, finishing projects, drinking coffee, fabric shopping, and making honey bran muffins among other things. I've gathered all of my supplies for pumpkin pie filled cupcakes and am prepared to make it work this week!

The leaves have just started turning here so it's starting to really feel like autumn despite the 85 degree weather. This week I'm excited to knock out some new sewing projects for my upcoming e-course as well as get some more handmade decorations up. Stay tuned for a fun tutorial!

Don't our kids look like they're having the time of their lives?

How did you spend your weekend?
xoxo,
Rachel

My New Fuji Instax Wide And Some Sneak Peeks

I rearranged Ruby's space this weekend in preparation to move that crib back into the kids' room and hope for a smooth transition. There's more to put together so this is all you get today. ;)

I've been wanting this particular needlework design for awhile and have had my eye on a $68 framed one in town for over a year. One day Elsie and I were talking about the 'God Bless Our Pad' needlework and how I wasn't really as into it as I thought I'd be color wise and asked her if she wanted it. She said she'd trade me for this other large needlework she had...and it turned out to be this one!!! We were both over the moon!

My birthday present from my brother came in the mail today! The new Fuji Instax Wide was on back order so I've been waiting patiently but used up the first pack of film within ten minutes. I was trying to feel it out and see how it handled. I may be in love.

Sebastian got in on the action and shot the photo of his new dinosaur. I came into the room later in the evening and he had my camera out trying to take a picture but I had purposely not loaded the next pack of film. I know my son. We had a little talk about Mommy's new toy and that he always had to ask before taking a photo and the difference between this camera and the digital ones he's used to. Yikes!

Here's a comparison between a Polaroid from an old pack that I took about two years ago of Sebastian and one of the Wide shots from today. The clarity is pretty great since this camera comes with a cute little lens. The lens has a reflective mirror so you can have fun with self-portraits.

Lots of fun.

I'm looking forward to playing around with it and incorporating them into some art journaling. I think Elsie and Holly have an Instax and I've been gifted a photo or two at some point.

I love the Instax Mini, too, because everything is so much cuter in miniature!

And this Instax Mini Hello, Kitty version is adorable!

I'm eager to hear how you feel about yours if you've got one and maybe a link to your favorite photo? That'd be nice. I'm probably going to have to start a change jar for my next round of film. Even though it's cheaper than Polaroid film it's still hard to fork it over after being spoiled with a digital camera for so long. Thanks, Joe! It was such a fun surprise!! ;)

xoxo,
Rachel